Whats the REAL cost? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

steves1967 · 01-15-2015, 11:51 PM

I'm thinking about putting a 6.0L / 4l80E combo in my 71. The original 350 is really tired. Whats the real cost of swapping to an LS engine? I figure I need a fuel pump, wiring harness, motor mounts, headers... what am I missing?

Sickfast1964 · 01-15-2015, 11:56 PM

There are so many options on the way to get there. But I would budget between 1500 and 3500. There are some headers that cost 750 to 1000. So it depends on how much of a budget you have, and what you want to spend.

texasld · 01-16-2015, 12:31 AM

I'm in the middle of my LS swap now and there are lots of nickel and dime stuff.

Adaptor plates $70
TBSS headers $360
ECM programming $75 plus shipping
Radiator hoses $35
New or rebuild/shortened drive shaft, $200 -$300
Fuel pump $108
I'm doing -an fitting that's $100 just for the send and return lines in engine compartment.
Fuel tank mod of some type of you get the return style system

Lot that goes into it. There is an FAQ on here. I'll see if I can find it.

texasld · 01-16-2015, 12:34 AM

Found it.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=456787

Rember, what I posted above is what I chose to do. You can do some of it differently and get a different cost.

*Fitz* · 01-16-2015, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steves1967

I figure I need a fuel pump, wiring harness, motor mounts, headers... what am I missing?

Money?

BigRed76 · 01-17-2015, 01:18 AM

I put the 5.3/4L60E in my '71 while trying to do it on a "budget" and it was $6K when I was "done". $1600 of that was for a full rebuild on the transmission though. And I also did things like radiator, electric fans, full new exhaust w/mufflers and headers, new rear mounted fuel tank. After doing the swap I've learned ways I could've saved money, I'd think you could keep it around $3K with careful planning.

69chevy lwb · 01-17-2015, 04:07 AM

I planned to do a cheap ls swap and ended up being In to it about 9k by the time it was completed. Mine is a carbed 5.3 with a hot cam, ported heads, rebuilt, tremec tko, dual exhaust, ect. That thing nickle and dimed me to death. If you do one buy a cheap truck that's driving and tear it apart. Even complete swaps usually lack a few items that add up quick

**special-K** · 01-17-2015, 08:24 AM

The cost can vary, but it's a lot more than buying the engine, harness, and computer

01-15-2015, 11:51 PM	#1
steves1967 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Manteca, Ca USA Posts: 305	Whats the REAL cost? I'm thinking about putting a 6.0L / 4l80E combo in my 71. The original 350 is really tired. Whats the real cost of swapping to an LS engine? I figure I need a fuel pump, wiring harness, motor mounts, headers... what am I missing? __________________ '71 Chevy 3/4 Ton Longbed '22 Chevy Tahoe RST '67 Firebird- 8 sec street car '24 GMC CC 4x4 Duramax Dually

01-15-2015, 11:56 PM	#2
Sickfast1964 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Corinth, Texas Posts: 161	Re: Whats the REAL cost? There are so many options on the way to get there. But I would budget between 1500 and 3500. There are some headers that cost 750 to 1000. So it depends on how much of a budget you have, and what you want to spend. __________________ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=649661

01-16-2015, 12:31 AM	#3
texasld Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Wilmot, NH Posts: 443	Re: Whats the REAL cost? I'm in the middle of my LS swap now and there are lots of nickel and dime stuff. Adaptor plates $70 TBSS headers $360 ECM programming $75 plus shipping Radiator hoses $35 New or rebuild/shortened drive shaft, $200 -$300 Fuel pump $108 I'm doing -an fitting that's $100 just for the send and return lines in engine compartment. Fuel tank mod of some type of you get the return style system Lot that goes into it. There is an FAQ on here. I'll see if I can find it. __________________ 1969 C10 SWB 5.3L LS, 4l60e, 2/4 drop (In Progress) 2015 GMC 2500 Duramax (Daily Driver) 1999 Jeep TJ 2010 Harley Street Glide Check Out My Build!: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=617981

01-16-2015, 12:34 AM	#4
texasld Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Wilmot, NH Posts: 443	Re: Whats the REAL cost? Found it. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=456787 Rember, what I posted above is what I chose to do. You can do some of it differently and get a different cost. __________________ 1969 C10 SWB 5.3L LS, 4l60e, 2/4 drop (In Progress) 2015 GMC 2500 Duramax (Daily Driver) 1999 Jeep TJ 2010 Harley Street Glide Check Out My Build!: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=617981

01-17-2015, 01:18 AM	#6
BigRed76 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,921	Re: Whats the REAL cost? I put the 5.3/4L60E in my '71 while trying to do it on a "budget" and it was $6K when I was "done". $1600 of that was for a full rebuild on the transmission though. And I also did things like radiator, electric fans, full new exhaust w/mufflers and headers, new rear mounted fuel tank. After doing the swap I've learned ways I could've saved money, I'd think you could keep it around $3K with careful planning. __________________ Zach 1970 Chevrolet Custom Camper K20 1971 GMC Super K2500, 12V/NV4500 swap in progress 1971 Chevrolet Custom C10 1972 Chevrolet Custom Deluxe C20, 5.3/4L60E 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, 455/TH400, 3.73 posi 2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD, LB7/Allison, CCSB 2005 GMC Sierra 1500, 5.3/4L60E, CCSB

01-17-2015, 04:07 AM	#7
69chevy lwb Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Evanston Posts: 304	Re: Whats the REAL cost? I planned to do a cheap ls swap and ended up being In to it about 9k by the time it was completed. Mine is a carbed 5.3 with a hot cam, ported heads, rebuilt, tremec tko, dual exhaust, ect. That thing nickle and dimed me to death. If you do one buy a cheap truck that's driving and tear it apart. Even complete swaps usually lack a few items that add up quick __________________ My Patinia'd 69 69-http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=517537 My RHD 68 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=594928

01-17-2015, 08:24 AM	#8
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Whats the REAL cost? The cost can vary, but it's a lot more than buying the engine, harness, and computer __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

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